Marine Landscape With Sex: The Nuances Of Eroticism In Paulette Bardy's Paintings

The Uniqueness Of Paulette Bardy

Paulette Denise Suzanne Bardy (1914–1966), known for her beach scenes and erotic pastiches, stands as a singular figure in 20th-century French art. Her career blends academic influences, such as those from the École des Beaux-Arts in Rabat, with an artistic sensibility that allowed her to transcend conventions. By combining the Impressionist style of Eugène Boudin with nuances of eroticism, Paulette Bardy created works that unveil tensions and ambiguities between the public and the intimate, rooted in the exploration of eroticism.

Fig.1 Bord de Mer (Seaside), early 20th century by Paulette Bardy

Fig.2 Beach scene (early 20th century) 

Fig.2a

Eroticism On the Beaches

Paulette Bardy grew up in Morocco, then under French colonial rule, where she absorbed both European traditions and local cultural influences. Her enrollment at the École des Beaux-Arts in Rabat, under the direction of Pierre Lavalley, equipped her with the technical mastery that would define her work. While she gained recognition as a skilled portraitist, her themes evolved to include outdoor scenes, particularly beaches — places where human interaction often oscillates between exhibitionism and privacy.

The innovative element in her work lies in her treatment of eroticism in these settings. Inspired by the lightness and dynamism of Eugène Boudin’s paintings, Bardy added a provocative touch: partially covered bodies, suggestive poses, and, at times, fleeting glances. Her “erotic pastiches” heighten the tension between idyllic natural landscapes and the moral unease that desire can provoke.

Fig.3 Erotic scene on a beach (early 20th century)

Fig.3a

Fig.4 Doggy-style on the beach (Early 20th century)

Eroticism As Pastiche and Transgression

The choice of pastiche, often linked to ironic imitation, is key to understanding Paulette Bardy’s approach. In her beach scenes, she adopts the visual style of Eugène Boudin — quick brushstrokes, vibrant light, and airy compositions — to shift focus from traditional landscape conventions to more subversive narratives. The bathers in her paintings are not merely enjoying the seaside; their postures suggest a deeper intimacy with the space, where sensuality discreetly emerges through sexual acts. For instance, in one painting (fig.5), we observe, as though from a voyeuristic distance, a man seated in a chair while a woman on all fours performs oral sex on him. In another, a ménage à trois unfolds: a woman in a dog-style position, is penetrated from behind by one man while performing oral sex on another.

Fig.5 Threesome on the beach (Early 20th century)

Fig.5a

In the extended Premium edition you can check out more about Bardy's "textured glass window" technique, the narratives in her compositions, how the eroticism in Bardy’s paintings challenged the prudishness of her era, the reception and legacy of her technique and creativity, more images of her sensual "beach" paintings + a BONUS feature on a beach painting by Edgar Degas.

Click HERE for the sensual dialogue between a copulating Japanese couple at the beach

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